Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
